Friends Discussing Exams

I once asked a female co-worker half my age who said she was going for her annual exam if she preferred metal or plastic speculums. It was apparent she hadn't considered it and wasn't sure how to respond. I told her I preferred metal as they are more clinical. I know she was surprised and turned on by our conversation.

I have noticed that women more easily share about having exams while men tend to maintain silence. Aside from a male friend suggesting that a physical exam was approaching, nothing more is said, and show nervously laughter when hearing a comic joke about the DRE.

@Ant What were there differences between you and your friends exams? I’m assuming that you and your friends all had different doctors?

Anytime I hear a female discussing their exam or upcoming exam I have to walk a tightrope. I care about their well being and hope that they are healthy and well but also want to hear details lol

I don't recall any recent discussions with friends. However, as a child I had a friend and we shared the same pediatrician. I recall one occasion where he was complaining about a physical he had for school and the comments the doctor made about having to "check the plumbing". Of course that just added to my anxiety because I had the same doctor - and now an idea of what to expect at my next physical.

I did this a lot as a kid. It was always interesting to hear what others experienced - level of nudity, whether the doctor checked genitals and “back there”, how temps got taken, shots, etc.

I also remember a friend telling us about a time his doctor “put this liquid in my butt that made me go to the bathroom”. I later discovered that he meant an enema.

As a grown-up, I’ll occasionally compare notes, but more in general terms, particularly if I’m looking for recommendations for a new provider or specialist.

I recall one occasion where he was complaining about a physical he had for school and the comments the doctor made about having to "check the plumbing".

It all depends how old you were exactly, but I really hated doctors who used goofy phrases like that before they did a genital exam.

I can recall listening to my aunt's be very vivid accounts of her gyn exams when she thought I was not listening! I learned quite a bit about medical procedures from her including her surprised reaction when she received her first procto exam! I was so glad that they only did that to girls. I was Soo to be proven wrong. After hearing what they did to her I had to share with my best friend at the time who happened to be a girl. After ewwws and glad that doesn't happen to me we had a nice long and very detailed discussion about what Doctors did to poor defenseless boys and girls! Just my two cents worth LOL. G.G.

This morning in the gym some of us girls were discussing our gyn exams.

Tessa- “Amanda do you like your obgyn?”

My ears perk up as these are my favorite conversations.

Me- “Yeah she’s good, I guess”.

T- “Does she do the finger up the butt test?”

I cringed.

Me- “yeah. Why do you ask, does yours?”

T- “My annual is today. And she does. And I hate it. So I may be looking for a new doctor depending on how today goes. My sister said her doctor doesn’t do THAT”

I laughed

Leslie- “It’s not that bad Tessa. “

T-“Yes it is Leslie, not all of us are freaks.”

Leslie- “It’s not nearly as bad as the clamp thing they use to do a pap and you won’t change my mind. Tessa you just need to learn to relax”.

Me-“None of it is fun. I just want to know that I’m healthy. That’s why we go. “

Tessa got a red face and jumped off the treadmill. I can’t wait to ask her tomorrow how it went.

I have found that it is a topic that is common among my co-workers where ever I have been employed. Often there are conversations in a casual manner whether it is to report that an exam is approaching or to comment about doctor's bedside manner. More intimate aspects are shared one to one or in isolated areas. Like Amanda's comments, it seems that the "finger thing" tends to capture reaction and comments. My doctor always performs it so by now it is not upsetting. One should get one's copay value!

Leslie- “It’s not nearly as bad as the clamp thing they use to do a pap and you won’t change my mind. Tessa you just need to learn to relax”.

Am I the only person who finds it ironic that many women, including my wife, use the word "clamp" to describe a speculum when in fact a speculum is the exact opposite of a clamp?

I don't think I've ever discussed a physical or my level of satisfaction with a doctor with a friend or relative. A few obligatory potty humor jokes about prostate exams or colonoscopies when turning 40 or 50, but nothing substantive. I've never asked a friend for a recommendation for a physician.

Pretty sure my wife has had those discussions with friends and/or coworkers, though. But never when I'm around.

When she told me she was going in for a D&C and hysteroscopy a few years back she said "Dr ___ has done this on every woman in our office." Clearly, that isn't a coincidence. I think she routinely gets recs from coworkers for doctors whenever we move to a new city.

I would love to be a fly on the wall for those conversations....

Am I the only person who finds it ironic that many women, including my wife, use the word "clamp" to describe a speculum when in fact a speculum is the exact opposite of a clamp?

You are most certainly not the only one. I didn't even understand at first what was meant by 'clamp'. I had to frown and read a few times before it struck me ...

Am I the only person who finds it ironic that many women, including my wife, use the word "clamp" to describe a speculum when in fact a speculum is the exact opposite of a clamp?

At one time I called it salad tongs. I think that doesn’t evoke as strong of a negative connotation for most. That and having your salad tossed involves a different hole. /s

Not exactly that, but I once had a male friend randomly start asking me questions about what a gynecologist does and what it feels like.

Tessa got a red face and jumped off the treadmill. I can’t wait to ask her tomorrow how it went.

And I’m sure many of us would love and appreciate it if you could let us know the details of what she said about her exam if she shares it with you. ?

Nope. Never. Not with any friends, relatives and very little with mom or dad; although I remember complaining to my parents how much I hated getting yearly physicals, especially when I started having rectal exams starting at age ten. Their response to me, "Get over it."

No, but often wished they would discuss them. A long time ago I was sharing a house in Cambridge with a straight friend. I had a huge and totally unrequited crush on him. I saw him in his underpants every day but only once caught a fleeting glimpse of his cock. One day he had to go for a pre-employment medical in London. I could think of nothing else for the whole day and wanted him to recount every detail of it.

'Did they feel your balls?' I asked jokily when he got back.

'They sure did' he said.

And that was that. But I wanted to know: did they have you strip down to your underpants from the off? Did you keep your socks on? Did they do your testicular exam with you standing or lying down? Did they part your buttocks to check that hairy hole I have never had the chance to see? Give me DETAILS!

But the only thing I ever knew was that 'they' did feel his balls and the questions remain buzzing in my brain unanswered forty years on. I am probably the only person alive who remembers that he had that medical circa 1982.

In Germany we had the military induction physical that was mandatory for all boys at age 17/18. We discussed it a lot before we had to undergo it. Also after it was done. Mostly when we had drunk alcohol. Even some girls were really curious and tried to ask us about our experiences.

In Germany we had the military induction physical that was mandatory for all boys at age 17/18.

There was some graphic stuff on the Web showing that - l may have mentioned it on Zity a while ago. (Don't know if it's still there.) It was quite, well, enjoyable for those of us who like the idea of male medical exams. Am not sure, but l think there were female doctors checking out those young men!

- Ken

It happened once, in high school. I was on a bus and someone I know was talking about his exam with the school doctor. If you wanted a part-time job after school, you had to get a doctor to sign off that you were in good shape, and a lot of kids went to the convenient and free school doctor. One of my friends said he went and got ushered into the exam room. The doctor asked, "do you feel okay?' and he said yes. The doctor signed the form and let him go. But on the bus after school one day, someone I knew who was in really good shape was telling us that the doctor made him strip down to his shorts. After doing the usual checks, he told the kid to "drop your drawers." The guy said he balked--the door to the exam room was open--and told the doctor that he wasn't going to do that unless the door was closed. So the doctor closed the door and my friend pulled his shorts down and checked out his penis and balls.

Yes, a couple times.

My best friend in high school was a tall, thin member of the track team. He made vague reference once to getting a physical from one of the town doctors when he was a kid -- how the doctor made him undress to his underpants and sit on the desk. When we were in high school, 11th grade I think, during first period the teachers were instructed to read the names of students who had not had their sports physicals yet (true story). I can't recall whether his name was on it but I like to believe it was. 😃 Then when he and I were in our mid-20s, we met to play golf and he talked about how the doctor had checked his "boys" ... testicles. I can't recall why/how the subject came up but I could hardly wait to get home to jack off!

In college, my roommate was voted the hottest guy on the dorm floor. He had a pretty average set of equipment below the waist. One time, he told me about his sports physical when he was a senior in high school -- how the doctor was young and female, "and she sure spent a lot of time down there." Given how attractive he was, I could see why.

In college, my roommate was voted the hottest guy on the dorm floor. He had a pretty average set of equipment below the waist. One time, he told me about his sports physical when he was a senior in high school -- how the doctor was young and female, "and she sure spent a lot of time down there." Given how attractive he was, I could see why.

Ahem, doesn't that sound like some youthful boasting? ha ha ...

The other day one of my friends was telling that she's planning for a baby and that she had gone for a health check with her husband to make sure she was fit to get pregnant. She said she was advised certain blood tests and urine test, an ultrasound was also done but the most embarrassing part was the Pap test. She said she hadn't got this done before so she was more embarrassed. Especially when she was asked to strip from waist down and lie down with feet in stirrups She said she also had a breast exam. That she said wasn't uncomfortable because she does regular breast checks.

She was like, her husband was also so embarrassed. He was red faced when the lady gynec asked, does he masturbate or have night fall. He answered both in Yes she said but was very embarrassed.

I am really happy for her but the way she was telling about her visit was making me excited to. I was imagining how she would have had her pap test and breast exam.

Her husband still has to go for his checkup though

Just the other day an intern at my job said she was scheduled for her first pap as she just turned 21. Three women aged 23-31 started sharing about the gyno. I was a few feet away at my desk and could hear. Couldn’t think much for the rest of the day!

This evening I was walking in the park, a lady was explaining over phone about a physical she had undergone today. I don't know whom she was talking to. The medfetter in me was more interested in the conversation itself. 😃 She seemed excited. It felt like this was the first time for her to undergo physical.

I was walking ahead of her hence I could hear what she was saying. She had undergone blood work ECG Chest X-ray Ultrasound and Pap test. She had a loud laugh after saying "Yes Pap test" This laugh gathered attention of other people too. I didn't see her but I am sure she might have felt embarrassed because she left the park after that.

This reminded me of my own Physical I undergo every year😃

Sorry to dig up the past….

I have a friend who was discussing her and her husbands decisions to only have one car since she works from home. She was discussing how awesome it was to say no to things she didn’t want to attend because she no longer had a way to get there. No more moral obligation nonsense.

This made me ask about the opposite. When she needed the car and didn’t have it.

Ellie told me she recently had a gyn appointment. And that morning there were no Ubers available. So she had to take her bike. And this made her sweat. She said her panties were stuck to her. She was unable to cool down and the paper gown stuck to her body. Then it started to rip.

Ellie tried to find another gown in a cabinet. And the doctor walked in while she was looking around. naked in a tattered gown looking all over.

“It’s already my least favorite day of the year. I’m never going back”

A female friend of mine we have discussed exams before. She asked me once what they did to me at my physicals? I asked why she wanted to know? she told me because her boyfriend refuses to go to the doctor and she wants to know what they do to you? I explained what they do to me and how they do it. She has told me things she has had done to her as well. It's never seemed to awkward or embarrassing to talk about with each other. Another guy friend of mine him and I go to the same doctor we discusse stuff also once in awhile.

I have learned a lot from the various discussions on this board and in a loose way consider members to be casual acquaintances. I have a few social groups I interact with and consider them friends. I also have a couple close friends individually. One commonality in the various friends is the ability to discuss past medical experiences. It helps to understand the health care system as a whole and the changes that are taking place. For example a friend had kidney stone surgery and we were able to openly talk about it. I have talked to others about our surgeries, and the difficulties that came up with the surgery.

A good example is here on Zity we are learning how brief regular physical exams are. In talking with friends who also go to Kaiser, I have learned its not necessarily the doctor but the HMO that is dictating the type of exam the doctor is to do. You can blame medicare to a point, but I have a couple friends that are on Medicare. They go to independent PCP and get much more thorough exams than I ever get at my HMO. I learn a lot of this by discussing exams and health issues with people. It seems that once a person starts a topic, the floodgates open and people are more than willing to share their experience.

I remember overhearing two girls in high school talking about what made them embarrassed at their exams. One said when they told her to undress, the other when they made her pee in a cup. We were all 14 or 15 at the time.

Another time i was passed three girls i the street and heard one say emphatically “I’m not gong to a gynecologist!”